- Edited
Testing in the latest version, typing a website into the location/search box on the toolbar, Orion tries to load the website via http. If the website has a redirect, it then jumps to https. If not it continues on with http. If the server at that address doesn't accept https, it just says can't open page.
As an example, try typing "www.tickets.com" in the location/search box in the toolbar. It will continue to the site via http. For a system I actually do use, it just says can't open page (because it doesn't listen for http [port 80] at all).
Note I do have Automatic HTTPS Upgrade turned on.
In this day and age, I recommend that when a protocol is not specified (e.g. one types in "www.tickets.com" rather than "http://www.tickets.com" or "https://www.tickets.com"), Orion try https first and then fallback to http. Of course if the user specifies a proper URL with protocol (e.g. the user explicitly enters "http://www.tickets.com"), then go to that site as specified whether it works or not or ideal or not.